By Eliana Barriga Publisher and Managing Editor for The Retail Observer It’s summertime, and time to nail down those last minute summer plans. Travel, concerts, sailing lessons, family gatherings, some BBQ and pool time. Maybe this is the year for you to take that vacation of a lifetime you have been dreaming about–relaxing, unwinding and having a little fun! What are you going to do to take care of YOU? Remember, it’s all about the journey– more than the destination, as they say. Are you on your journey or standing on the sidelines watching the game of life? Are you living your life to the fullest? Are you nurturing your heart by spending time with the ones that mean the most to you? I invite you again, to stop and think a little bit more about your personal priorities. Check out the vacation habits of the Europeans! Many take a month off in the summer together as a family and travel to the coast to enjoy the fresh sea air and downtime to recharge and refresh–taking time to walk on the beach, soak in mineral springs, and enjoy the pampering menus at the many spas to rejuvenate their body, mind and soul. In doing so, our perspectives change, our energy strengthens, and our bodies take the needed rest to continue on our journey of life. Only when we take care of ourselves can we nurture our families as well as our businesses. We return with clarity and a renewed vision. So, summer is for fun! Swimming, sun, sports and travel, food and family– you get the picture. So bring it to your store. We all want to feel good and have fun along the way. Remember, your clients and customers can be just as stressed as you are. What if you could make it feel like a mini-vacation when they come to your store? You could theme your weekends, play some carnival games with little giveaways. People like to win something! Enter them into a monthly drawing for a really cool prize like dinner for 2 at a local restaurant, a weekend getaway, tickets to a sporting event or even a cruise. Feel good, word of mouth advertising doesn’t get much better than that! So get playful and have some fun! Eliana Barriga [email protected]
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By Eliana Barriga Publisher and Managing Editor for The Retail Observer Recently, I have been reflecting on the cycles of life and the challenges we all face at one time or another — personally and in business — as they are often intertwined in the small business environment. I experienced a mild traumatic brain injury from a rear-end car accident late last year, which left me with many months of doing absolutely nothing except to rest and stay hydrated. It forced me to stop everything I was doing on a daily basis in order to heal. It was frustrating to say the least, struggling with my desire to be well NOW! I had things to do, places to go. I was to go on a once-in-a-lifetime dream trip to Dubai and Africa on safari with friends in Kenya. Those plans and many more were shelved. I was grounded. We all know someone who has been affected by a job loss, foreclosure, illness, or financial insecurity in some way. How do we address that when confronted? How do we support the grieving that comes from this loss and change? In our businesses, how many of us take the time to really get to know our employees or co-workers to find out about the challenges they may be facing? Would it make a difference to them or to our team's spirit if we took a little time and actually got up close and personal with those we spend so much of our working days with? My new criteria is to ask myself, 'Will this matter a year from now?' If the answer is no, then why get upset about it now? Conversely, if the questions you ask yourself about the events and circumstances in your life pass the one-year test, then that’s the indicator of the worthiness of your time and attention. How many times have I brushed aside time with my family for projects that needed doing around the house instead of saying yes to who and what matters most? These are the things that really matter in life, the things we need to prioritize in the time we spend with those we love and those we work with. Why does it take an accident or a death in the family or financial crisis before we wake up and get our priorities straight? I encourage you all to take the time and let those you know, love and work with every day know how much you care. That’s just one way to be prepared and at peace with some of the big stuff that comes along in our lives. Be well, Eliana Barriga [email protected] |
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December 2021
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